Create a blogging strategy

If you are an online retailer and sell from your own website, you will know that getting buyers to your website is an ongoing pursuit. Could blogging be the answer to a steady stream of interested buyers?

Yes, but only if you have an effective strategy in place.

There are a number of reasons why blogging is useful to your online store including:

Helping with your search engine rankings

Giving existing customers a reason to come back and visit your website

Establishing yourself as an authority in your market

However, every online retailer knows this and has jumped on the blogging bandwagon, so to stand out, and actually capture your buyer’s attention, you’ll need a strategy in place. A good strategy will provide you with direction, help you understand what your buyers want and most importantly, ensure that every post you write will get you results.

How to create a blogging strategy

1. Inform and entertain

If you are just getting started with blogging, the number one rule that you must keep in mind is that the goal of blogging is to inform and entertain your readers. Many newbies make the mistake of going into blogging and trying to “sell” their products. Avoid this! When you build trust with your readers by informing them and entertaining them, the sales will come naturally.

To get ideas for content, check out authority sites related to your niche. Here are a couple of ideas to get you started:

Blogging comes under the umbrella of social media because it encourages social interaction. Cash in on this and spread your blog by making it easy for your readers to share your content. You can do this by using social sharing buttons such as the Facebook social plugins or Twitter buttons. You should also look at including the Pinterest button which is generating a lot of sales for eCommerce businesses.

3. Get on Pinterest

Pinterest is the next big thing in social media. I know, I know; you have heard that one million times, but Pinterest really is making big waves on the internet. It currently gets 12 million unique web visitors each month (back in July 2011, it was getting 1 million per month). The reason you should get on Pinterest is because it drives a lot of traffic to not only your blog, but also your storefront. Signing up for Pinterest is free and you can learn more about how to use it to make a profit here.

4. When it’s time to start promoting, start softly!

When you have a consistent following of blog readers, the time will come to start promoting your products every now and then. When you start, follow the 80/20 rule: 80% of the time, keep your content entertaining and informative and 20% of the time, funnel your readers towards making a purchase. This means that every 5th post or so will contain a plug for a product you sell. The 80/20 rule is usually the perfect balance between

Do you use a blog as part of your marketing? What is your best tip? Share it below!